3/8" vs. 1/2" Impact Wrench?

[GoodEnough]

For light auto work, which do people use?
Do you need both?
When does one work better than the other?

 

[DTB]

I only use 1/2,but I work on trucks.For most automotive I think alot of people get by with 3/8 for a majority of the work.Just depends on your work environment.

 

[FOCUS.FREAK]

People at my work have 3/8. It comes in handy, 1/2 just seems to big most of the time.

 

[DYOLF26]

For light work I would suggest a 3/8" because they are usually lighter weight. But that is only if you don't need more torque than a 3/8 is capable of. Another way to put it is if on average you are dealing with much more bolts around 14 mm and below go with a 3/8 but if you are dealing more with bigger nuts and bolts go with a 1/2" simply because you will need more torque to consistently break the larger bolts loose and not risk over torquing them. To be honest you can get away with having just a 1/2" at first because most of the time you can break lose bolts that you cant reach with the impact by hand with a wrench or ratchet.

So I suggest getting a 1/2" and if you find that a smaller, more compact impact would be beneficial add a 3/8" to your arsenal.

 

[Jswain]

Go with 1/2" especially with the small compressor the power of the 1/2 will break bolts way faster consuming less air. I tried a 3/8 on mine with a compressor a little bigger then yours and it took much longer to take wheels off. Bought a 1/2 IR and it zaps the bolts off on instant so doesn't take much air. Anything in the engine bay you'll probably use hand tools/air ratchet so I would think if you were to have only 1 gun stick with a 1/2". You also mentioned in your other thread you need it to be quiet so the longer the impact has to hit to remove a bolt the louder it will be.

 

[MackMan]

I've really only ever seen 1/2" being used, and that's what I have. But then I only have really used it for lug-nuts.

 

[gtermini]

3/8" Snap On cordless --> go to for normal fasteners, usually even over a ratchet

3/8" Snap On pneumatic --> in the shop where air is easy or on a job where I would exceede the battery on the above gun

1/2" IR 2135TIMAX --> anything that's too big for the cordless gun, tires, fasteners over 3/8

3/4" Snap On --> Big ****

It all comes down to what you preferences are. I tend to reach for my cordless because it's quick as hell. I wouldn't be without any of my impact guns.

Greyson

 

[NC-Shaun]

I have both, it really depends on the job at hand. If I were to only have one or the other it would be the 1/2 incher.

 

[collinb1234]

I tend to grab my 3/8 impact first, less weight, and quite a bit smaller, only time i use my 1/2 is lug nuts, severely rusted bolts, and when i use my 1/2 to 3/8 3 foot extension for ****** bell housing bolts.

 

[shampoop]

1/2".

3/8" guns cost the same amount but have half of the power. They're more of a luxury with their small size and weight. 1/2" guns have the power do to things you can't really do with hand tools.

Once you have both you'll use the 3/8" more often just because it's easier and only use the 1/2" when you need to. Doesn't mean if you could only have one that it's the one you'd want.

 

[nicksnothereman]

For light auto work, which do people use?
Do you need both?
When does one work better than the other?

1/2". It would be more for space dependent impact (3/8" would be a little skinnier) for bolt heads; on some parts it can be kind of goofy (spindles) because of the way the steel is (not straight). Though honestly where space is that much of an issue you're probably not going to get an impact wrench in there anyway nor would you want to unless you want to replace all the bolts.

I don't know what qualifies as 'light'. If you mean lugs to rotate wheels it doesn't really matter but if you do heavier stuff you're going to want 1/2" so you might as well get a 1/2". I think they sell consumer grade electric impact stuff in 3/8 for like 40 bucks (kawasaki?) but the torque levels are kind of meh because you don't plug it into a socket you plug it into your cigarette lighter. If it works could be useful; not sure they work well.

 

[SchuLace]

When I bought my electric impact I went with a 1/2 and an adapter from 1/2 to 3/8. I can use it for pretty much anything.

 

[MattPersman]

I would say depends really what you get. A IR 3/8 TImax is gonna be better than a metal $30 1/2 impact no namer. But a low $ 1/2 earthquake impact is gonna have more power than both. Depends on budget vs actual power needs. Better to have a good 1/2 gun if you only could have one it's more versatile. Like IR 2135 TI max would be a good suggestion.

 

[Chuck122]

I only have 1/2" but i'd like to get a 3/8" at some point

 

[crewchief888]

i work on const eq, i use 3/8" drive most of the time.

my "goto" is a 18v milwaukee fuel 3/8"dr.

if i'm close enough to air, IR 212 3/8" dr, and IR231 1/2" dr

3/4" dr gun is an older bluepoint

 

[ex-x-fire]

I got one of those IR composite 3/8s when they first came out, I sheared the square drive off twice. I never fixed it a second time.

 

[bcradio]

If you can only buy 1 get the 1/2", but if you can buy both then definitely do so.

I use my 3/8" gun 95% of the time including lugs on all my vehicles and only take out the 1/2" when the little guy won't cut it (VERY rarely).

--So basically what Shampoop said

 

[X1 Mike]

I would suggest a 3/8" cordless impact and a 1/2" pneumatic.


Anything you would need a 3/8" for can usually be handled by a decent quality cordless tool. Only get the 1/2" air out for the big stuff.

 

[Gary S]

I own only a 1/2", so that is all I use. I own only larger vehicles, so I don't think a smaller wrench would be useful for me.
If I buy a second one, it will be a 3/4".

 

[Farmall450]

I only use 1/2,but I work on trucks.For most automotive I think alot of people get by with 3/8 for a majority of the work.Just depends on your work environment.

I agree. I've never had 1/2 not work on cars either. Slightly bigger, yes. But stronger.

 

[GoodEnough]

Thanks. Right now, I have that 1/2" $29 Husky impact wrench from HD. I don't even know what my requirements are, so I will start with this setup and modify to suit if/when I encounter limitations (size power, etc)

 

[volaredon]

there is a difference in impacts... alot of brands that "aint what they used to be" and alot more now available that I have never heard of, seems everyone has a "knockoff" these days to sell. I have a Snapon (yes they have several levels of power avalable in an impact I know) my co workers have composite IR's talking all 1/2" at the moment. Mine is the gun everyone comes to borrow when theirs wont do the job.

I used to have a 3/8 too but I wore it out and havent been able to replace it yet (I miss it for alot of my jobs) Both of my co workers have cordless 3/8 and 1/2, that they use alot... I have a Milwaukee 1/2" M18 at home and grab it when I have a small job that I dont want to wait for my compressor to fill up
your compressor and fittings have alot to do with the strength of an impact too... my 5HP 80 gallon 2 stage upright is "down" right now so my backup is a 5HP gas powered single stage 30 gallon portable. Same tools, I cant do as much with that single stage compressor as my big one.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I would suggest a 3/8" cordless impact and a 1/2" pneumatic.

Non Professional

I bought a CP 1/2" many years ago. Very happy.

I would love a 3/8" cordless, but I can't justify the cost of a Milwaukee M18 Fuel and I think the DeWalt (which I have batteries for) would not have enough torque for things like caliper and caliper bracket bolts where its size would be nice.